RTV 3007 B51: Introduction to Television

 

 

 

Description

Outcomes

Texts

Standards

Grades

Assignments

Fall 2019
M/W 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Glenn Hubert Library 160

Instructor: Mercedes Vigón, Ph.D.
vigonm@fiu.edu or 305-919-5628
Office: ACII

By appointment or:
M - W: 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m.

NAHJ Chapter Meeting: Mo: 5:15 pm- 6:15 pm
Newsroom Lobby - AC2-132.

 

This syllabus is your contract with the instructor for the course:
Please read it carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear to you
Course participation signifies your acceptance of this contract

Course Outline

Course Description and Objectives:

RTV3007: This course is designed to introduce you to the history, regulation, industry structure and impact of television. We’ll look at the roots of television and the forces that have shaped it and continue to change it. We’ll look at the FCC’s role in licensing and regulation. We’ll explore careers in this changing industry. We’ll discuss some controversial issues facing television: the role of television in politics and public life, diversity in an age of media consolidation and how TV and the Internet are merging.

Outcomes:

By the end of the semesters students will:

  • Understand the impact and history of television (the people and technology that gave birth to it);
  • Understand the role of the FCC and the major regulatory acts;
  • Understand basic ratings systems;
  • Gain an appreciation of new developments in televisual media, such as social media, streaming media, mobile video and more;
  • Learn to collaborate as production teams reviewing TV series; and creating alternative spaces;
  • And finally, identify their own strengths and weaknesses in a competitive environment.

Professional Values and Competencies:

The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications requires that, irrespective of their particular specialization, all graduates should be aware of certain core values and competencies and be able to:

  • Understand and apply the principles and laws of freedom of speech and press for the country in which the institution that invites ACEJMC is located, as well as receive instruction in and understand the range of systems of freedom of expression around the world, including the right to dissent, to monitor and criticize power, and to assemble and petition for redress of grievances;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and, as appropriate, other forms of diversity in domestic society in relation to mass communications;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society;
  • Understand concepts and apply theories in the use and presentation of images and information;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity;
  • Think critically, creatively and independently;
  • Conduct research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications professions in which they work;
  • Write correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications professions, audiences and purposes they serve;
  • Critically evaluate your own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity, appropriate style and grammatical correctness;
  • Apply basic numerical and statistical concepts;
  • Apply current tools and technologies appropriate for the communications professions in which they work, and to understand the digital world

Required Text

Provided by the professor, assigned weekly, and uploaded to Canvas.

  • Barnouw, Erik. Tube of Plenty, The Evolution of American Television, 2nd Revised Edition, Oxford University Press, 1990
  • Campbell, R., Martin, C.R., Fabor, B. Media & Culture. An Introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin', 2011. (Radio, TV and Cable)
  • Einsten, Mara. Media Diversity. Economics, Ownership, and the FCC. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 2004.
  • Wolk, Alan. Over the Top. How the Internet is (Slowly but Surely) Changing The TV Industry, 2015. (The Television Industry Today).

Recommended reading

iClicker details

  • I will be using the iClicker Cloud classroom poling system in order to make our class time more engaging. This will help me understand what you know and give everybody a chance to participate.
  • Participating in my iClicker Cloud sessions will be counted towards the final grade. Attendace/polls will be worth 15% of your final grade. You will be able to get up to 5 points per session, or 10 per week.
  • You are required to do your weekly readings, and bring a device to participate in my iCliker Cloud sessions during the class. I will be allowing participation with the iCliker Reef app on a smart phone, tablet, labtop or iCliker remotes. Please follow the instructions in Canvas.

Standards:

  • Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty:University policies regarding academic honesty apply in all cases, and it is the responsibility of the student to familiarize themselves with these policies. Go to http://www.fiu.edu/~oabp/misconductweb/2codeofacainteg.htm for the complete code. Also, plagiarism is grounds for dismissal from the class and the university.
  • It is not the instructor’s policy to grant extensions/make-up exams except in VERY legitimate and provable cases. Any student, who nevertheless wishes to request an extension/make-up exam will have their WRITTEN request evaluated by the instructor, and based on his or her judgment, may or may not grant an extension/make-up exam. There will be no Incompletes given. If you need to, you must drop the course (see DROP DATE on academic calendar) and sign up again during a future semester.
  • Course grades will be assigned as follows:


    A: 94%-100%
    A-: 90%-93.99%
    B+: 87%-89.99%
    B: 84%-86.99%
    B-: 80%-83.99%
    C: 70%-79.99%
    D: 65%-69.99%
    F: below 65%

  • If a student misses class, it is his or her responsibility to get notes/info from other students and Canvas. Do not email the professor asking about missed assignments/classes/notes.
  • Use of cell phones, PDAs or MP3 players during class is prohibited. That includes texting. If you insist on violating this rule, I will take 10 points of your next assignment. Lectures may be recorded with prior approval. If you are caught using your cell phone or any other banned device during a quiz or exam, you will be in violation of the university’s policy on academic dishonesty.
  • The instructor retains the right to modify this course syllabus for any reason throughout the semester provided that:
    a) Fair and adequate notice is given to enrolled students during class or in Canvas;
    b) Modifications to the syllabus are not arbitrary or capricious, and;
    c) Students are not unfairly disadvantaged by mid-semester changes to grading standards, attendance standards, or performance measures.

Grades:

"Top Ten" Individual/Team Reading Assignments (100 points each) 30%
Midterm and Final (150 points midterm; and 150 points final) 30%
Classic Review (100 points) 10%

Content Plan (150 points)

15%
Participation/iClicker Clood Sessions(150 points) 15%
TOTAL 1000 points 100%

You’ll be notified at least two weeks in advance on when the final exam will take place.

Assignments:

"Top Ten" Team Reading Assignments 100 points each, 300 points total. You will need to write a one to two page assigment of the readings. Choose the 10 most important ideas you found in the assigned readings. Write a title and a short paragraph (5 sentences, give or take) summarizing each idea. Make sure you do not copy and paste or plagiarize. Summaries will be graded Pass or Fail. (If you pass all you will have an A; if you fail one a B; if you fail two a C; and,if you fail three a D ...). (You can find more guidance on canvas asignments, and Power Points with the main ideas of the chapters. Make sure you write your report from the book, not the Power Point presentations. DUE weeks: 3,8,15.

Classic TV Review – 100 points, beginning week 4
Students will work in teams of four to watch and review a classic TV program. The team will work together to research the show, write a review that the professor will post to the class blog, and select a 2-5-minute segment of the show to share with the class. More details about this assignment can be found on Canvas.

Midterm Exam – 100 points
The Midterm Exam will include all the readings, lectures and presentations, and will follow the format of the summaries. DATE: week 9.

Content Plan – 150 points, beginning Week 11
Students will work in teams of four to develop a plan for a new show for broadcast, cable, radio, streaming, DVD, social media or other platform. Each group will produce a content plan; a content sample; and a class presentation. In addition, each student will complete a Self-Evaluation. A more detailed explanation of this assignment can be found on Canvas.

Final Exam – 150 points
The Final Exam will include all the readings, lectures and presentations..., and will follow a format similar to the reading reviews. DATE: TBA -Finals Week 17- 3/5, December.

Participation - iClicker Cloud sessions– 150 points
Please, follow the ground rules for the debates, and read the iClicker details above.